RTA’s Community Planning Program Seeks Public Comments for Projects

Today we announced the opening of the public comment period for nine projects proposed as part of the Community Planning Program of Projects. The RTA’s Community Planning program offers technical assistance to local governments and intergovernmental organizations to address local planning needs that intersect public transportation and land use. Through this assistance, the RTA encourages municipalities in the region to develop walkable and more sustainable communities near transit stations and along transit corridors.

Eligible projects include transit-oriented development (TOD) plans, transit corridor plans, TOD zoning code updates, TOD developer discussion panels, transit neighborhood mobility improvement plans, plans to develop special funding districts in transit areas, and other innovative implementation approaches. The Community Planning program strives to not just plan for the future, but to provide assistance that achieves results.

The comment period ends on March 8, 2019. Public comments on these projects may be submitted to applications@rtachicago.org. More information on specific proposals can be found here.

The City of Cary requests the creation of a transit-oriented development plan for the area generally located within a half mile of the Cary Metra station with particular attention given to properties located within the first quarter mile. The project would focus on future land use and infrastructure improvements that would help to strengthen the inner core of the community and encourage private reinvestment near the station.

CDOT is seeking assistance in determining a course of action for improving mobility along 31st Street from Sacramento Avenue to the city limits, particularly for non-auto users (pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists). This work would include collecting and aggregating data of travel trends and traveler demographics in the study area and assisting with community outreach to obtain consensus on plan recommendations.

The City of Crystal Lake requests the creation of a transit-oriented development plan for the areas surrounding the Crystal Lake and Pingree Road Metra stations. The project would create a development strategy for increasing the density in these areas with the goals to strengthen pedestrian walkability and to expand mixed use and transit supportive land uses for increased travel efficiency.

Elevated Chicago requests the development of an implementation strategy for the Elevated Chicago Workplan, focusing on CTA station access, traffic and circulation, community safety, equity, placemaking, and beautification. This assistance would include creating an action plan for each of seven CTA station areas identified by Elevated Chicago through their Workplan, and a public outreach strategy to generate public interest and engage partners to identify implementable recommendations. This recommendation is subject to CMAP including this application in their 2019 program of projects.

The Village of Itasca requests technical assistance in updating the Downtown Strategic Action Plan aimed at strengthening the downtown business environment surrounding the Itasca Metra station, guiding development and redevelopment, building on the Village’s unique assets in the downtown area including historic buildings, parks and open space, and enhancing opportunities for transit-oriented development.

Metra requests an examination of 9 stations across the region in an effort to diagnosis the reasons for low ridership. The project would include an examination of service levels, current and forecasted ridership, service options, market area characteristics, and the potential for transit-oriented development. A cost benefit analysis of each station’s ongoing operations would be included to provide an overall set of recommendations for the future of each station.

Pace requests a transit market and facilities assessment of the I-294 Tri-State corridor from 159th Street Interchange in Markham to the Balmoral Interchange in Rosemont that would encompass a 5-mile radius on either side of the corridor. The assessment would identify transit markets along I-294 to inform where future routes and investments in transit infrastructure could be made when the Tri-State is rebuilt, providing incentives for commuters to use public transit.

The Village of Park Forest requests a transportation alternatives study on behalf of the villages of Park Forest, Matteson and Richton Park. The study would determine the market potential for new mobility services such as local community-based transit services, shared mobility services and non-motorized transportation alternatives.

The Village of Riverside requests a comprehensive update to its Zoning Ordinance. The update would reflect current development trends and implement the Central Business District Plan that promotes pedestrian oriented redevelopment in the District while preserving the character of the downtown. The update would also address zoning issues related to protecting the Village’s national historic landmark designation.